Friday, January 9, 2009

The color of 2009

I find this incredibly interesting. Pantone has selected "mimosa" as the color of the year for 2009, for reasons having to do with our collective state of mind. Fascinating. The way that we can collectively be drawn to a color seems to me to be related to why we all go to the bank at the same time, for example. What kooky internal, unknown quality is there that draws us together in these seemingly random ways? Are we so much more connected than we even know? I know some will cry bogus, but examples like this make it hard to deny that we can have a collective aesthetic, or internal timer, or numerous other types of (quite personal!) sensibilities.

PANTONE® 14-0848 Mimosa, a warm, engaging yellow, as the color of the year for 2009. In a time of economic uncertainty and political change, optimism is paramount and no other color expresses hope and reassurance more than yellow.

"The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance," explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. "Mimosa also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovation."

I'd like to weigh in as officially loving this color, and notice that I'm already using it in my design work, here and there.

3 comments:

I like the choice. I don't think I've seen a whole lot of yellow in fashion and design lately, except pale yellow with gray, which is nice (but not good for my wintery skin). This is a warm yet powerful color. Not for the meek, or mustard-haters. I'm sorry I said mustard, banish the thought, although I am a condiment lover so maybe that's why I like this color.

This makes me laugh. "Mimosa" is alarmingly similar to the shade of our heinous "national camp & retreat committee" vests that we recently had to sport for a full week at our conference. (Who knew dorky Methodist camp people would suddenly be so hip?!) This color looks good on very few people. So go ahead and use it liberally in print, home textiles, or what have you. But most of us shouldn't wear it. I should add that yellow is still my favorite color, for all stated sunny & optimistic reasons.

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About Me

I'm originally from the DC suburbs, lived in downtown DC in my 20's and moved to Northern California the day I turned 30. I love my daily work as a graphic designer, but equally love working a crossword, getting lost in a book, or floating down the river on a sunny day. I am blessed with an adorable husband, and dynamic, inspiring friends. My mom is my biggest inspiration and I worship my super-smart, utterly hilarious sister. The dogs and cats with whom we share a home are cute, furry brats, and I love them.
See some of my design work at: www.susanbcreative.com